Brett Lee excelled as an exponent of extreme speed over a decade without achieving the all-conquering success required to earn the tag of a true Test great. Fast and with a flashy smile that added to his star quality, he finished as Australia's fourth-most successful bowler with 310 wickets in 76 matches. A refusal to bow to severe injuries increases his rating, but for most of his career he operated as brutal support for Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie. In his final two years he was a highly dependable attack leader until his body limited his ability to back up in five-day contests.

At his best he gained outswing with the new ball and reverse with the older one, making him even more difficult for batsmen trying to steady themselves while knowing he could reach 160kph. The charging run-up and leaping celebrations added to the theatre for a bowler who made an instant impact when taking five wickets on debut at the MCG. Forty-two victims came in his opening seven Tests to gain him an A-list reputation, but he was soon in rehabilitation after an elbow operation. His ankles were a popular site for surgery and there were also side strains and stress fractures in a familiar cycle of breath-taking pace, painful injury and long-term layoff.

After starting by shaking up batsmen with short balls and yorkers, Lee became a smarter operator under Ricky Ponting's captaincy and knew when to deliver a burst of speed or a containing spell. In nine Tests following McGrath's departure, Lee stood up with 58 victims at 21.55 and also won the Allan Border Medal in 2008. During that period he helped keep the rebuilding side on top of the world.

Life soon became harder again and after returning from more ankle surgery - his last act in a Test was limping off the MCG with a broken foot - he missed the 2009 Ashes with a side strain. England wasn't a kind host for Lee, who was consoled by Andrew Flintoff during his absorbing yet heart-breaking batting near-miss in Edgbaston in 2005. He was a courageous run-maker who would deflect or absorb the efforts of opposing fast men as they searched for payback.

A gentleman off the field, he was aggressive on it and rarely went over the top in comparison to his team-mates, although his bouncers at the tail-enders were uncomfortable viewing. Mostly he was a shining example to young players in all forms of the game. He retired from Tests at the beginning of 2010 to prolong his career in the shorter forms: in those affairs he could stay true to himself by attempting to operate at optimum speed while reducing the load on his aching body. He finally retired from all international cricket in July 2012.Peter English

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Timeline

November 20-23, 1997 The blonde bombshell arrives

The younger brother of Australia international Shane Lee makes his Sheffield Shield debut for New South Wales against Western Australia at the SCG. Takes three wickets and the opposition rate him the fastest bowler they've faced in Australia.

1999-2000 A tearaway beginning

Lee overcomes stress fractures in the back to emerge a contender for national selection. He is named the twelfth man for the Perth Test against Pakistan but makes his debut against India at the MCG. Rattles a clueless India with his tearaway pace by taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings, including a wicket in his first over. Ends the series with 13 wickets in two Tests. Takes his maiden one-day five-wicket haul against the Indians in Adelaide on Australia Day. Storms New Zealand with 18 wickets in three Tests in his first away series.

December 2000-August 2001 Injury calling

His first major injury setback. After taking seven wickets against West Indies at the WACA, he suffers a stress fracture to the lower back and misses the rest of the series. Returns for the one-day tri-series but injures his elbow and hence, misses the historic tour of India. Returns for the Ashes tour.

Finishes the leading wicket-taker in the 2002-03 VB Series with 18 wickets, including a match-winning 5 for 30 in a tense second-final against England. Lee has an outstanding World Cup in South Africa and finishes second in the overall wicket charts with 22 scalps at 17.90. Carries his form to the West Indies where he finishes with 17 wickets.

2003-04 The designated drinks man

In the absence of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Lee has to carry the bowling attack but finds the going tough against India. Returning from an abdominal injury, he takes eight wickets in two Tests but at an expensive 59.50 per wicket. Suffers an ankle injury and misses the tour of Sri Lanka. He's out for nearly five months and misses yet another Test tour of India. The return of Michael Kasprowicz puts enormous pressure on Lee to win back his place and as a result, he spends many months in the sidelines as a twelfth man.

2005 A lifeline

Returns to the Test line-up after an 18-month hiatus. Bowls his heart out in the 2005 Ashes in England, taking 20 wickets in five games. The decline of Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie gives Lee a lifeline. Nearly wins the Edgbaston Thriller with the bat. Returns to top form against West Indies later that year, leading the wicket charts with 18 wickets at 20.94.

In McGrath's absence, Lee shoulders the bowling attack in South Africa, taking 17 wickets in the three Tests. He and Kasprowicz seal a nail-biter at the Wanderers. Takes his 200th Test wicket in the second match at Kingsmead.

2007-08 The spearhead

Leads the bowling attack following the twin retirements of McGrath and Warne. Leading wicket-taker in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka with 16 scalps. Tops the wicket charts against the Indians later that summer with 24 wickets in four Tests. The golden run continues in the West Indies where he's the leading wicket-taker again. Takes his 300th ODI wicket in the same tour in Grenada.

2009 Keeping the surgeons busy again

Undergoes a foot surgery at the start of the year before a side strain forces him out of the Ashes. He returns for the one-dayers in England but suffers yet another injury setback. He undergoes an elbow surgery and ends the year without playing a single Test. There are fears that he may never bowl again.

A steady spate of injuries takes its toll on Lee's body, and he announces that he can no longer keep up with the demands of five-day cricket. His retirement from Tests is also aimed at prolonging his ODI career, especially keeping the 2011 World Cup in mind.

Lee signs up with Wellington to play in the domestic Twenty20 season in New Zealand, and also puts in some fine performances for New South Wales, including a haul of 5 for 47 in a tense win against Western Australia in a Ryobi Cup match. The selectors are satisfied with his form and name him in the 2011 World Cup squad.

January 12, 2011 A less-than-impressive return

Playing his first international match since October 2009, Lee goes for plenty in a Twenty20 game against England, conceding 41 off four overs. Australia lose by one wicket.

January-February 2011 Success against England

In the seven-match ODI series just before the World Cup, Lee is the highest wicket-taker among bowlers from either team, taking 11 at an average of 24. It includes a haul of 3 for 27 in Sydney, which wins him the last of his 15 Man-of-the-Match awards in ODIs.

It's one of the most compelling performances of the World Cup, but it ends in defeat for Australia. Lee takes 4 for 28, but Australia lose to Pakistan by four wickets, ending their 34-match unbeaten run in World Cup matches. One defeat later, Australia are out of the World Cup. Lee ends up with 13 wickets in seven games, the highest haul among Australians.

April 9, 2011 The 200-ODI milestone

Australia's first ODI after the 2011 World Cup - against Bangladesh in Mirpur - is also the 200th in Lee's career, as he becomes the ninth Australian to achieve that landmark.

August 20, 2011 Matchwinner in Colombo

Lee's 4 for 15, along with Xavier Doherty's four-wicket haul, helps Australia to an easy five-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Colombo. It's the last of his 23 hauls of four or more wickets in ODIs.